Word Origin & History

tomb c.1275, from Anglo-Fr. tumbe, O.Fr. tombe (12c.), from L.L. tumba (cf. It. tomba, Fr. tombe, Sp. tumba), from Gk. tymbos "burial mound, grave, tomb," from PIE base *teu- "to swell" (see thigh). The final -b began to be silent 14c. (cf. lamb, dumb). The Tombs, slang for "New York City prison" is recorded from 1840. A tombstone (1565) originally was a horizontal stone covering a grave (or the lid of a stone coffin); meaning "gravestone, headstone" is attested from 1711.

Example Sentences for tomb

In the radiant morning he walked away from her and home; into the mine, his tomb.

Yet censure is not heard beneath the tomb, any more than praise.

Which might be a glorious sort of tomb, but it did not appeal to me.

He was about to speak again, had not Tomb silenced him with a gesture.

It was a mild, peaceful Sabbath day when they bore her to the tomb.

If the great house was like a tomb, my mother was like a flower in it.

He had received the appellation of Firme F, was revered as a saint, and people ascribed marvellous healing power to his tomb.

There was a moment in which the place was as still as a tomb.

The text of this letter Herkhuf had cut on the front of his tomb, and it reads thus: Royal seal.

He commanded that this work of art be engraved upon his tomb, and he was obeyed.